Dear Douglass Students,
Welcome to Rutgers! I’m Megan Coyne, a proud Douglass alumna from the Class of 2019. After graduating with a degree in political science, I ran social media for Governor Murphy and later served in the White House Office of Digital Strategy under President Biden. None of this was on my radar when I first started at Rutgers – and none of it would have been possible without Douglass.
I came to Rutgers ridiculously shy and unsure of what path I wanted to take in life. Douglass helped me find my voice, my confidence, and my footing. It gave me space to learn alongside people with life experiences wildly different from my own, to push boundaries, to get involved, and to believe that my voice mattered.
If there is one thing I want you to know, it is this: you do not need to have it all figured out yet…or ever. I am still figuring out my path in life – that’s human! Douglass taught me something far more important: the kind of person I want to be in life – empathetic, confident, relentless, and curious. You are not behind. You are not supposed to have all the answers. What matters most is showing up ready to learn, to listen, and to lead.
Being part of Douglass is an extraordinary opportunity. You are now part of a community of bold, brilliant, and badass students. Enjoy every moment, seize every chance, and support each other fiercely. You’ve got this – and we’ve got you!
Go crush it,
Megan
Megan Coyne is current Vice President of Mercury Public Affairs. She was formerly the Deputy Director of Platforms for the White House Office of Digital Strategy under the Biden Administration. Prior to joining the White House Staff, she was Social Media Director for the Office of Governor Phil Murphy. You might know her as the brains from the viral NJ.Gov Twitter account. She is a 2019 graduate of Douglass Residential College where she was awarded the Edele Neilson Prize in speech and delivered the student keynote at the 2019 Douglass Spring Convocation.
